Inside this article:
- A semi-truck carrying an estimated 70,000 pounds of beehives overturned in Whatcom County, Washington, releasing around 14 million bees into the surrounding area.
- More than two dozen beekeepers rushed to assist with the recovery of 300 hive boxes from the overturned truck.
- The incident demonstrates the unique risks associated with transporting livestock, which is often excluded under Motor Truck Cargo Insurance.
- Trucking companies hauling live cargo should review their insurance policies closely for exclusions or coverage gaps.
- A Livestock Endorsement is available for carriers who transport live cargo.
A truck carrying 70,000 pounds of beehives overturned on a rural highway in Whatcom County, Washington, on May 30, releasing an estimated 14 million honeybees into the surrounding area. According to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, more than two dozen beekeepers helped with rescue efforts as they worked to recover the 300 hive boxes and rebuild the beehives.
Videos shared from the scene showed workers in white protective suits covered in bees and moving the hives as millions of insects swarmed the area. Multiple emergency workers were stung in the process and officials asked the public to stay at least 200 feet away from the accident site. The bees were expected to re-hive and find their queen bee within 24 to 48 hours, the New York Times reported.
While it is unclear how many of the bees were recovered, the trucking company could be held liable for a wide range of costs, some of which could be covered by the trucker’s Motor Truck Cargo Insurance — as long as livestock transport is not excluded.
“Some truckers do not realize that their policy has exclusions for livestock, which could include bees. Sometimes truckers knowingly accept a load of bees only to realize later that they really do not have coverage for that,” said William Mills, Director, Transportation, Burns & Wilcox, Salt Lake City, Utah. “Without coverage for livestock, the trucker could end up paying these expenses out of pocket.”
Sometimes truckers will accept a load of bees only to realize later that they really do not have coverage for that. Without coverage for livestock, the trucker could end up paying these expenses out of pocket.
The “what-if” scenarios are endless with this type of accident, said Fernando Batista, Manager, Transportation, Burns & Wilcox, Toronto, Ontario.
“The different claim scenarios include physical damage to the hives and colonies, the loss of bees from death or escape, or business interruption for the beekeepers waiting for that delivery. You could have individuals getting stung who are allergic or auto accidents because bees got into someone’s car,” he said. “Anything is possible. It’s important to be prepared and ensure you have the right coverage. Expect the unexpected.”
You could have individuals getting stung who are allergic or auto accidents because bees got into someone’s car. Anything is possible, but that is what insurance is for.
The unique risks of livestock transportation
Transporting live animals poses a set of challenges that differ from typical cargo loads. Livestock may be vulnerable to stress, injury, escape, or temperature fluctuations during transit. In 2023, more than 20 million animals died in transit to slaughterhouses, Investigate Midwest noted in a January report on livestock deaths in transit.
In January of 2022, a collision between a dump truck and a pickup hauling 100 monkeys in an enclosed trailer led to the release of three of the monkeys, which were later found and reportedly had to be euthanized because they posed a health risk to the public. In April of 2024, a fish tanker truck carrying over 102,000 live salmon overturned, releasing about 77,000 salmon into a nearby creek.
“Coverage for livestock under Motor Truck Cargo Insurance can vary widely by carrier and form,” said Mike Perrotti, Director, Inland Marine, RB Jones. “Some policies exclude live animals entirely, while others may provide limited protection for specified perils like theft, fire, or overturn. To further broaden protection, some insurers offer Livestock Endorsements that include mortality coverage from more causes, or to cover costs tied to reloading, temporary storage, or property preservation. It is critical to clarify exposures and ensure the right endorsements are in place before transit begins.”
Bee transport comes with added risks due to the sheer numbers involved.
“The unique nature of the cargo makes it all the more complicated to insure and all the more complicated to transport,” Batista said. “Anytime you haul livestock, there are several things to consider, from planned routes to temperatures and conditions inside the trailer. Because of the unique nature of the cargo, a lot more consideration needs to be given.’”
The unique nature of the cargo makes it all the more complicated to insure and all the more complicated to transport.
Motor Truck Cargo Insurance plays a key role in damage control, potentially providing coverage for damaged cargo, cleanup costs, and more. Bee recovery efforts, emergency response, hive replacement and other expenses may also be considered, though coverage would vary based on the trucker’s specific policy.
“There are going to be a lot of costs,” Mills said. “Bringing in the beekeepers from around the area to help the bees get reunited with their queen, for example, may not be covered by some policies. There could be additional expenses that the trucking company incurs that they may not have realized, either. Whether that would be covered under the typical Motor Truck Cargo policy would remain to be seen.”
Average Motor Truck Cargo Insurance limits are often around $100,000, Mills said, and cargo coverage is usually determined on a per-pound basis or by the declared value of the load. “What was the value of the bee colony, and were there any controlled environment conditions required by the policy? Those are important questions to ask,” Batista added.
‘Many, many gray areas’ in potential liability
Since many Motor Truck Cargo Insurance policies exclude livestock, transportation companies typically need to specifically request a Livestock Endorsement and ensure that the animals they are transporting would be covered under that endorsement.
“Livestock is a fairly standard exclusion,” Mills explained, adding that a loss could be defined differently based on the policy. “If some of the bees just flew away, do they have to produce the carcass of the bee to get reimbursed? I do not know how an adjuster would handle that. There are so many, many gray areas with this.”
Even with a Livestock Endorsement, “escape is often not an insured peril,” Batista noted.
Additionally, swarming insects can pose risks to bystanders, motorists, and emergency responders — especially those with allergies. If someone was injured as a result of the bee release, questions of liability may come into play, and legal exposure could extend to the hauling company or even the operation that owns the bees. Third-party business interruption claims are also possible if the farm expecting the bees was unable to operate due to the delay, Batista said.
“Anytime something is delayed and does not get where it needs to be, there is a financial impact of some sort,” he said.
Specialized insurance broker needed
Beyond Motor Truck Cargo Insurance, other insurance policies that could respond to trucking accidents include Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance, Truckers Auto Liability Insurance, Transportation Pollution Liability (TPL) Insurance, and Auto Physical Damage Insurance. Given the possibility of livestock exclusions or limitations, consulting with a specialized insurance broker is crucial, Mills said.
“I would suggest that they work with a broker who is used to clients handling bees and livestock and who is knowledgeable about the coverage options,” he said. “You need an insurance broker who knows exactly what you are transporting and who can make sure you have the right insurance coverage before you go out on the road. It is all about knowing your risk.”
You need an insurance broker who knows exactly what you are transporting and who can make sure you have the right insurance coverage before you go out on the road. It is all about knowing your risk.
These kinds of incidents also underscore the importance of risk management, including hiring qualified drivers who have experience in livestock transport — not someone who is “just dabbling in it,” Batista said. “This is where it comes down to pre-employment screening, training, and hiring the right drivers,” he said.
